Atlético gamble against Milan without a net
MADRID, 23 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid receives this Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) Milan at the Wanda Metropolitano, on the fifth day of the group stage of the Champions League, in a direct pulse to remain alive in the classification and be able to choose in the sixth and last day to get the ticket for the round of 16.
The ‘colchoneros’, who come from losing the double direct duel with a Liverpool that is already classified as first in the group, have little margin if they want to stay alive. Only a victory against Milan would allow them to face the final duel, against Porto, depending on themselves.
With almost no margin for error, if they don’t want to speculate on a last day of heart attack, Atlético have to win. He already did it in the first round at San Siro (1-2) and now, with his fans at his side, he must repeat the result to visit the Estádio do Dragao with the peace of mind of knowing that doing homework would entail celebrating the pass. And, at a point from Porto, he cannot stumble against the ‘rossoneri’ because if there is a surprise at Anfield, with a defeat leaving him eliminated from the race towards the second round.
For this, the current Spanish champion needs a solid night and with his best version, which he has not yet reached in this first leg of the season, where he is having a hard time getting the victories. Despite this, he comes to this duel with one against Osasuna, but sealed in the 86th minute and in a set piece that Felipe finished off.
The best news for Diego Pablo Simeone is that he will be able to count on Antoine Griezmann, to whom UEFA finally did not add another penalty game for his expulsion against Liverpool. The Frenchman is the player most inspired by attack and his team needs him as they do when visiting Liverpool or at the Mestalla.
At his side, since Joao Felix has not been able to recover from the blow he has in the twin, the other scorer should return, a Luis Suárez who rotated the weekend for his trip with Uruguay and who would leave Ángel Correa without a place.
In the center of the field, another of those who had some rest through the international ‘window’ was the Argentine midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, whose entry would cause Thomas Lemar or Marcos Llorente to be sacrificed, since Koke Resurrection seems fixed.
Anyway, Llorente could be an option for the right lane to the detriment of Vrsaljko and for a defense with the good news of Savic’s return after serving his four-game suspension. The Montenegrin will take the place of the sanctioned Felipe along with Giménez and Hermoso.
MILAN TAKES CLOSE TO IBRAHIMOVIC, LEAO AND BRAHIM
Opposite, a Milan that arrives in the capital in a worse situation and outlook. The seven-time European champion has only one point, the one added on the last match day at home against Porto, and he needs to attack the Wanda Metropolitano to maintain his qualification options.
The Italian team will try to repeat its good staging that it had in San Siro where it disarmed its rival until the expulsion of the impetuous Kessié prevented him from holding the 1-0 of Leao. Those of Stefano Pioli cannot speculate too much and they will also have to come out with the same aggressiveness in search of taking advantage of the doubts of a rear that has not yet given the performance of yesteryear.
For this he will oppose all the danger he has upstairs, with the veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic, absent in the first round, ready to give the rojiblancos centrals a bad night, accompanied by the speed of Leao and the talent of Brahim Díaz.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Llorente, Savic, Giménez, Hermoso, Carrasco; De Paul, Koke, Lemar; Griezmann and Luis Suárez.
MILAN: Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Romagnoli, Kjaer, Theo Hernández; Kessié, Tonali; Saelemaekers, Brahim Díaz, Leao; and Ibrahimovic.
– ARBITRO: Slavko Vincic (SLO).
–STADIUM: Wanda Metropolitano.
– TIME: 21.00 / Movistar Champions League.